Flexible sharp-freezing container



Dec. 24-, E929. G COPEMAN 1,740,919

FLEXIBLE SHARP FREEZING CONTAINER Filed 001;. 5. 1928 INVENTOR. 1070CbPf/Vfl/V ZMJ M AT ORNEY.

II IIIIIIIIII Patented Dec. 24, 1929 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LLOYDG. COPEIYIAN, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'I'O COPEMAN LABORATORIESCOMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN FLEXIBLESHARP-FREEZING CONTAINER Application filed October 5, 1928.

This invention relates to flexible sharp freezing containers and has todo particularly with sharp freezing containers of the type formed ofrubber or similar flexible material,

which may be easily distorted to effect easy removal of the ice cubes.

Such a flexible ice cube tray is shown in my Patent No. 1,675,599 issuedJuly 8rd, 1928. The present invention relates to certain improvementsupon the disclosure in said patent, in that the ice cube tray of thepresent invention is particularly adapted for use with thoseinstallations where the refrigerator or at least the sharp freezing unitis subjected to movement during operation. In this respect I referparticularly to boats, aeroplanes, and the like.

More specifically the present invention contemplates the use of aflexible ice cube tray preferably of rubber wherein the outer walls areprovided with an upwardly and preferably inwardly positioned extension.In this case the ice cube tray may be tilted to an angle ofsubstantially 45 and still prevent the overflowing of any liquidcontents, while the upwardly and inwardly positioned extension, beingflexible, permits easy removal of the ice cubes.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sharp freezingcontainer embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating onemanner of molding the lip extension at the top of the outer walls.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, butillustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

While it is possible to mold or fabricate the tray, embodied in thepresent invention, from various materials and compositions, I preferablymold the same from rubber.

The rubber tray shown as embodying the present invention is preferablyformed as a single integral article having a bottom wall 1, and sidewalls 2, similar in shape and size to the standard metal ice cube tray.Suitable partitions 3 are also preferably formed integral with thebottom and side walls so as to define the ice cube chambers inaccordance Serial No. 310,556.

with the desires of the particular manufac- I turer.

Instead of terminating the side walls 2 at the upper edge 4: of thepartitions 3, I preferably mold an upwardly and inwardly extending lipformation 5. This upwardly and inwardly extending lip preferably extendsas a continuous annular lip entirely around the periphery of thecontainer, as best shown in Fig. 1. In forming the tray the joint between the walls 2 and the lip 5 is preferably formed in the nature of anoutwardly extending groove or fill-ct 6. v

It will be understood that the lip 5 may take many various shapes andpositions, both as to thickness, size, and the angle to which it ispositioned relative to the side walls. In some instances where the traywould not be subjected to much'rocking or even in local stationary useit will be desirable to have only a relatively short lip which needonlyextend inwardly at a very slight angle.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slightly modified form in that the partitions3, adjacent the walls 2, are preferably extended upwardly as at 7whereby to form suitable reinforcing ribs for the lip or extension 5.

In operation the tray will be filled witlr water or other liquidapproximately to the top 4 of the partitions 3. By reason of the lips 5it will be seen that the tray may be substantially filled almost to theedge 4 and then placed in the sharp freezing unit without any danger ofspilling. In this connection it will be obvious that a tray providedwith a very short lip extension would be useful in inserting freshlyfilled trays. Evenif the water should be at a level slightly above thetop4 nature of the rubber tray will prevent its slippingaround in itsreceptacle, although, if desirable, 'it will be obvious that my rubbertray may be inserted in the ordinary metal container. After the cubesare frozen any one of the individual ice cubes may be removed by merelydistorting the bottom of the tray adjacent said ice cubes, and if thecube is adjacent the outer wall of the tray it will be obvious that thelip 5 offers no obstruction to its removal because of its inherentflexibility. Moreover, if the liquid should extend above the top edge 4,and become frozen in a contiguous upper layer it will be only necessaryto flex the entire unit whereby to sever such upper contiguous layer inaccordance with the walls formed by the partitions 3.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container formed offlexible material, the outer walls of said container being provided witha lip extending above the normal level of the liquid to be frozen.

2. A sharp freezing container for use in connection with mechanicalrefrigerating units, comprising a standard outer wall and compartmentsformed to receive a predetermined amount of liquid and means extendingaround the top of the outer wall of the container and above the normalliquid leylel for preventing overflowing of the liqu1 3. A" sharpfreezing container for use in connection with mechanical refrigeratingcontainer terminating inaflexible lip extendmg above and inwardly of theouter wallunits comprising walls for defining the shape and size of thearticle or articles to be frozen and a lip extension extending above thenormal outer wall of the container and formed of flexible material toprevent overflowing of the liquid and at the same time permit easyremoval of the ice cubes.

4. A sharp freezing container for use in connection with mechanicalrefrigerating units comprising walls for defining the shape and size ofthe article or articles to be frozen and a lip extension extending aboveand inwardly of the outer wall of the container and formed of flexiblematerial to preventoverflowing of the liquid and at the same time permiteasy removal of the ice cubes.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container of thetype adapted to be positioned in heat conducting relation with the lowside of a mechanical refrigerating system, the walls of such containerbeing formed of a material to which ice does not readily adhere, and theouter walls of said whereby to prevent overflowing of liquid from thecontainer but-permit easy removal of the ice cubes. 1 i

6. As a new article of manufacture, a-sharp freezing container formedintegrally of rubber, the walls of said container defining the shape andsize of the article or articlesgto be. 7

nature.

LLOYD G. COPEMAN.

